HOT HOT HOT!

Thursday 19 December 2013



Don't forget to keep yourselves hydrated ladies and gents!
 
It's 8.30pm here in Melbourne and still 30 degrees. 

Napoleon Perdis 'Merci' Lip Gloss Collection - Swatches and Product Review

Wednesday 18 December 2013

 

This is the Napoleon Perdis 'Merci' Lip Gloss Collection.
 
It's a limited edition Christmas set that retails at $49.
 
 
These are my Secret Santa gift from my sister.  Obviously not so much a secret and I shouldn't have them until Christmas but I couldn't help myself!
 
The box is a gorgeous deep navy blue with gold lettering.
 
 
 
 
Inside the box there are five lip glosses.  Normally I steer well away from buying lip gloss sets because I usually find that at least one or two of the colours are not something I'd ever wear.
 
Napoleon Perdis has come up with five amazing colours that everyone can wear.  They are great on their own or gorgeous over a lipstick.
 
 
I've found in the past with Napoleon glosses that they are incredibly sticky and I walk around with my hair stuck to my face more often than not but these are not sticky at all.
 
I don't know whether the formula has changed or not but these glide on, they're super hydrating and not sticky at all.  LOVE LOVE LOVE.
 
 
 
These are the colours.  From top to bottom they are: 
 
* Rebecca (rich dark pink)
* Anna (coral pink)
* Casey (pale pink with a shimmer)
* Kate (bubblegum pink and my favourite obviously).
* Tannia (orange coral)  At least I think that's the name.  VERY small print!
 
The colours are pretty pigmented apart from Casey, which is pretty sheer.
 
I am really impressed with these.  They are long wearing and are great on their own or over your favourite lippy.
 
 
 
Here's a quick pic of the applicator.  I know some of you prefer a doe foot wand but this applies really well and is a nice quality brush.
 
These were available from www.napoleonperdis.com
 but I believe they are sold out.  However they are still available at Napoleon Perdis stores but be quick as they are selling super quickly.
 
I hope this helps you.
 
Kate xox
 
**************************************************
 
Please stop by my pages and like, follow and subscribe:
 
 

EOS Lip Balms - Product Review

 
 
O.M.G.  I don't know how I have lived without these babies!
 
Now I love my lip balms and lip chaps but I usually find that they make my lips worse rather than better.  I find that I have to continue to use them or my lips get dry, crack and then the skin just flakes off.
 
With the EOS lip balms I've had none of that.
 
 
 
 
 
So let's get into what they are!
 
I bought the four pack and in this pack I got three of the round balms and one stick.  The scents are (from left to right) Honeysuckle Honeydew, which smells just like melons as you would expect.  It's a subtle scent and not overpowering at all.
 
The second one is Summer Fruit and I seriously want to EAT this one.  It smells divine and as you would imagine, just like fruit.  I LOVE this one.  It's my favourite and I am going to have to stock up!  This, to me, has a stronger scent than the Honeysuckle Honeydew but it's still not overpowering or sickly.
 
The last round one is Sweet Mint and it smells like..... wait for it.... MINT!  This is my least favourite of the three and it has a very strong smell of mint.  Still cute and great on your lips though.
 
The final one is the lip balm in a tube.  This is a Vanilla Bean Smooth Stick and it's got a gorgeous subtle vanillas scent. If you find the little round balms fiddly to use then this is the one for you.
 
 
 
I love the packaging and the colours that they are.  I highly recommend these to anyone and more so to anyone, like me, that's had issues with lip balms making their lips worse rather than better.
 
I do use these during the day but I prefer to use them at night so that when I wake up in the morning my lips are soft and hydrated.
 
I bought mine online and I had trouble getting them. 
 
If you are purchasing these from Ebay make sure the seller has thousands of feedback and that they have a 99% or above positive feedback.  I don't recommend Ebay but if you stick to high positive feedback you are generally going to be ok.
 
I hope this helps you.
 
Kate xox
 
**************************************************
 
Please stop by my pages and like, follow and subscribe:
 
 
 

Stunning Natural Nails

 
 
Hey everyone,
 
I normally wouldn't post natural nails with nothing on them but this set of nails I just had to share.
 
 
These are my lovely friend Renee's nails.  Before she came to me she had paper thin nails that were always breaking or splitting.
 
These photos are taken after removal of Renee's third set of CND Shellac nails.
 
This is immediately after removal and before any cuticle work and filing.
 
 
I just wanted to show you the amazing quality of Renee's nails.  I've often had people say to me that Shellac damages nails and after removal you will have dry and ruined nails.
 
NOT THE CASE!
 
As you can see by these photos Renee's nails are in amazing condition.  They are long, strong and hydrated.
 
I hope this post helps you if you are deciding whether or not to try Shellac.
 
Kate xox

**************************************************
 
Please stop by my pages and like, follow and subscribe:
 


Neon Baby!!!

Friday 13 December 2013

 
Now I REALLY wasn't sure when I did this set of nails.
 
I really wasn't sure about bright green, glow in the dark, neon nails but after stamping I love them.
 
My lovely client was over the moon!   The remind me of Maori tribal tattoos.
 
I've used CND Shellac in Cream Puff and added neon green pigment over the top.
 
I finished off the nails with a Konad stamp and black Konad polish.
 
What do you think?
 
**************************************************
Please stop by my pages:
 
**************************************************

Konad plates and polish can be found here: http://www.konadnailart.com/

The neon pigment can be found here: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/330938387305?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_477wt_1219

If you are outside of the UK you may need to contact the seller to ask if she can ship to you.

Nude Zebra Nails

Thursday 12 December 2013

 
My lovely client lets me do ANYTHING I want and I've been dying to try out the new CND Shellac Intimates Collection.
 
I've used Satin Pyjamas and finished the nails of with a zebra print stamp from Betina (plate 05) and I've used Essie Penny Talk for the stamping.
 
 
Renee has had so many compliments on these nails.
 
I think they are simple but stunning and I am totally in love with the Intimates Collection.
 
**************************************************
Please stop by my pages and follow me:
 
**************************************************

I purchase my Betina plates from Messy Mansion:

https://www.facebook.com/messymansion

http://www.messymansion.com.au/

Winter Wonderland Nails

 
These are my nails.
 
I am not big on really Christmasy nails on myself but I love doing them for my clients.
 
BUT I do love snow and that whole feeling you get when you wake up on Christmas morning and the garden is covered in a gorgeous white blanket.  I remember how excited I used to be as a child when I'd open the curtains and the garden was pure white.
 
Unfortunately I don't see that anymore as Christmas in Australia is usually somewhere around 30 degrees Celsius!
 
So I decided I'd create some nails for myself that remind me of my childhood Christmases.
 
 
I've used CND (of course) Shellac in Azure Wish and layered Ice Vapor over the top to get that icy look and on the ring finger I've used Silver Chrome, again layered with Ice Vapor.
 
I've then gone in and added some lovely little snowflake stamps in Konad white and Essie No Place Like Chrome.
 
I love them and they give me that feeling I used to get when I was a little girl :-)
 
 
**************************************************
Please stop by my pages:
 
**************************************************
 
Konad plates and polish can be found here: http://www.konadnailart.com/
 
I bought my Essie polish from Ebay. 

Winter Red Snowflake Nails

Monday 9 December 2013

 
I had a lovely new client last week who had only had shellac done once and never with nail art.
 
She wanted some lovely Christmas nails.
 
 
I've used CND Shellac in Hollywood and layered Ruby Ritz over the top.
 
The ring finger is Hollywood and I've layered one of my favourite new colours, Ice Vapor, over the top giving it a lovely sparkly snow effect.
 
 
My client wanted silver details so I've used some Bundle Monster snowflake stamps.  I've used Essie No Place Like Chrome for the stamping.

***************************************
 
The Bundle Monster stamps are available from: www.bundlemonster.com
 
I bought my Essie polish from Ebay.
 
 
**************************************************
Please stop by my pages:
 

Neon & Sparkles

Tuesday 26 November 2013

 
I totally love these nails.  I have a client that pretty much lets me do what I want and this is what I came up with.
 
 
 
I've used CND Shellac in Black Pool on three fingers, the middle finger is CND Shellac in Silver Chrome with CND Shellac in Ice Vapor over the top and I've added three AB Swarovski crystals for that extra bit of bling.
 
 
The ring finger is two coats of CND Shellac in Cream Puff and then I've very gently pressed in some amazing pastel neon pigment powder, top coated and then done this gorgeous flower stamp.  The stamp is a Betina stamp from plate 07.
 
 
***************************************
 
The neon pigment is available here, and this is a special listing for Australians only.  If you are in another country you should contact the seller before purchase.  The seller is located in the UK
 
 
You can find Betina plates here: https://www.facebook.com/messymansion
 
 

**************************************************
 

Please stop by my pages:
 

Dark Dahlia & Gold Bling

 
Soooo I think this is the first time I've actually used Dark Dahlia and I am in LOVE.
 
What a gorgeous colour it is.
 
My client has amazing nails and wanted something dark and sexy .
 
I've used CND Shellac in Dark Dahlia and I've added a couple of gold water decals for a little bit of bling.  I think this is going to be my new favourite colour!
 
 
 
*************************************************
 
Stay tuned everyone.  I have some very exciting things coming up in the near future and an amazing giveaway.
 
 
**************************************************
 
 
 Please stop by my pages:
 
 

Phillips VisaPure - Product Review & Giveaway


 
Okay ladies, I have some very very exciting news. 
 
I have been asked to review the brand new Phillips VisaPure Facial Cleansing Brush.  I am being sent on for myself and I am going to be doing a video diary over the next six weeks and posting the results on my YouTube channel and also my blog.
 
And the very exciting bit is that Phillips are also sending me a second VisaPure to be given away!!!!  Unfortunately the product giveaway only applies to ladies in Australia :-(
 
Soooo the giveaway will be at the end of January, 2014 and in the meantime I need as many new subscribers to my YouTube channel and blog as I can possibly get so please please help me out and if you haven't already subscribed, please do so.
 
One lucky lucky lady is going to be receiving one of these amazing Visa Pure Facial Cleansers (RRP $199) absolutely FREEEEE!
 
Here's my YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/mrsdix1971
 
 
I am only just starting up my YouTube channel and blog and I would appreciate as much support as possible.
 
Stay tuned for the video diary and more details about this amazing giveaway!
 
Kate xox

Hayley Larue Design